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Friday, June 17, 2011

Review: I am Number Four (Pittacus Lore)

Title: I am Number Four

Author: Pittacus Lore

Genre: YA Science Fiction

Pages: 440

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Challenges:

FTC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my school library

Summary (from the back of the book): In Nine of us came here, we look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books--but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing. But they know. They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya. They killed them all. I am Number Four. I am next.

Review: I have been waiting to read this book all year, but students kept checking it out. I figured this was a good sign so waited patiently until the end of the school year when I could "steal" it and take it home over the summer. I am so glad that I brought this book home!

I'll admit that the Prologue, the first four pages, was a turn off. Too science-fiction/alien/fantasy for me. But, I was not to be deterred and I was hooked within the first few pages of chapter 1. While the main characters are aliens, they may as well be human and the story really progresses as a good YA book does: crushes, family issues, school, bullies, etc. The only difference is that Number Four (known as John throughout the book) starts to develop powers. The powers come slowly and are interesting so that was fun as well.

I really liked the characters and their relationships. Henri really is a father figure for John and I like their honesty, respect and loyalty to one another. His conflict with Mark, the bully, is stereotypical, but it was good that John stood up for himself. Sam, the science geek, is a fun character because I wanted him to be right and gain confidence, which he eventually does. Sarah is the good girl, the good girl friend, no surprises there, but she ends up being stronger than I thought she would so that's good.

Once the fight begins, and you know all along it will, it got a little science-fictiony for me, but I wanted John to win so badly that I was okay with the beasts, the aliens, and all the peripheral fantasy/sci-fi fighting stuff. And, it really isn't a huge part of the book. The end of the book is intense to say the least. So as not to spoil it for those who still plan to read this book, let me just say I love the dog, the emotions, and the fact that things aren't really resolved when all is said and done.

Click to see my updated Google Map. Whew! Ohio, a new location for me to add to the Google map, always an exciting thing. It didn't really matter where this book took place, as long as it was a small town with an isolated house in which Number Four and Henri could hide. When I was thinking about location for this book, I wondered where Lorien would be on a Google map....

6 comments:

Oh, I should have seen your review first before the Beginnings post. LOL! This one does sound good. I don't know how the scifi elements will work for me - they're usually a hit or miss for me. But I like the sound of this book, I think I will check it out.

I read this book earlier in the year, and I rated it a 4/5. I enjoyed it, but did find certain parts slightly predictable, but others took me by complete surprise. Overall it was a good read (and the movie was interesting). Do you think you’ll read ‘The Power of Six’ when it is released later in the year?

About Me...

I taught History and Government for 14 years, and was a Teacher Librarian for 4. I am now a Social Studies and Technology Integration Coach for my district. I love to read, do photography, play with technology, and travel!